Access Clinton County Felony Records

Clinton County felony records are handled through the County Court and Sheriff's Office in Plattsburgh. Located in the northeastern corner of New York near the Canadian border, the county is part of the 4th Judicial District. Felony cases go through the County Court at 137 Margaret Street. The Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and jail data, while the County Clerk holds civil records but not criminal case files. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Plattsburgh City Police and New York State Police, also keep records in this area.

Clinton County Court System and Felony Records

Clinton County Courts are at the Clinton County Office Building, 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The Supreme and County Court Chief Clerk is Denise Durkin, with Deputy Chief Clerk Danielle Marquis. Phone is 518-536-3840, email ClintonSupremeCo@nycourts.gov. Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM. E-filing is mandatory for select case types.

The County Court Judge is Hon. Keith M. Bruno, reachable at 518-536-3805, email KeithBruno@nycourts.gov. Supreme Court Justices include Hon. John T. Ellis and Hon. Christopher J. Obstarczyk. The court is part of the 4th Judicial District and handles all felony criminal cases in the county.

The Family Court Chief Clerk is Cathy Williams with Deputy Kelly Loughran at 518-536-3820. Family Court Judge is Hon. Amy Asadourian. The Surrogate's Court Chief Clerk is Madeline Weidner at 518-536-3830. Surrogate's Court Judge is Hon. William A. Favreau. Probate records begin in 1792. The Commissioner of Jurors is Mary Coffey Pfeiffer at 518-536-3810.

Plattsburgh City Court handles misdemeanors and violations. Town and Village Courts throughout the county deal with minor matters. Court records are public under FOIL with certain exemptions. Certificates of Disposition must come from the court of original jurisdiction. The court participates in NYSCEF e-filing.

Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office is in Plattsburgh. Sheriff David Favro heads the office. The office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and jail records. A 24-hour warrant system runs through NCIC and state databases. The office works with Plattsburgh City Police, New York State Police, and SUNY Plattsburgh University Police on law enforcement matters.

Records requests can be submitted under FOIL. The Civil Division handles service of process and evictions. The County Jail maintains inmate custody records. Pistol permit applications are processed through the office. The office provides law enforcement for towns and villages without their own police departments.

Juvenile records are maintained separately with restricted access. The office coordinates with the District Attorney and courts for case processing. The office maintains statistics on arrests and enforcement activities. Under Public Officers Law Section 89(3), agencies must respond to FOIL requests within five business days. Fees for copies cannot exceed 25 cents per page.

County Clerk Records Access

The Clinton County Clerk's Office is at 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The main phone is (518) 565-4700. The Clerk maintains most civil cases but does not keep trial minutes. For criminal court cases, contact the court clerk directly, as criminal records are not open to the public through the County Clerk's Office.

The office maintains censuses, deeds, and mortgages. The earliest land deed in Clinton County was in 1788. Marriages from 1908 to 1935 are in a docket book, but certificates are not issued from that information. Naturalization cards begin in 1865 and contain basic information like name, date, and residence. Copy fees are $0.25 per page with additional fees for certified copies.

The office provides online records search for certain record types. E-recording is available for real property documents. Passport services are provided at the Clerk's Office. Records retention follows New York State schedules. Births, marriages, and deaths are kept by each town clerk, not the County Clerk.

Surrogate's Court and Probate Records

The Clinton County Surrogate's Court is at 137 Margaret Street. It handles wills, estates, adoptions, and guardianships. Probate records go back to 1792. All adoption records are sealed and not public. Guardianships of infants are open to the public, but 17A guardianships of mentally disabled individuals are not. Copies cost $0.25 per page. E-filing is mandatory for Surrogate's Court cases. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

Statewide Felony Search and Sealing Laws

State-level tools cover Clinton County felony records. The OCA CHRS costs $95 for a statewide conviction search. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free. The Sex Offender Registry and WebCrims are also available at no cost. The NYS court records page explains how to get records.

CPL Section 160.50 seals records when charges are dismissed or a defendant is acquitted. CPL Section 160.59 allows sealing after 10 years for eligible convictions, limited to two total. The Clean Slate Act auto-seals misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years from release. Sex crimes and Class A felonies are excluded. CPL Section 160.58 covers substance abuse convictions. CPL Section 720.35 protects youthful offender records.

For your own criminal history, contact DCJS Record Review at 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. Under Correction Law Section 9, DOCCS removes information 3 years after sentence completion. FOIL requests follow Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90. You can also submit FOIL requests to the State Police.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County does not have major cities with dedicated pages on this site. All felony cases in the county go through the Clinton County Court.

Nearby Counties

Neighboring counties in the North Country maintain their own felony records and court systems.